GRAPHENE/CARBON NANOTUBES/POLY(VINYL ALCOHOL) COMPOSITES FILMS

M. P. Ferreira, T. L. C. F. Arajo, P. E. L. da Silva, D. S. C. Gomes, B. O. Neuenschwander, R. M. Sabino Comisso Nacional de Energia Nuclear-CNEN/CDTN Av. Pres. Antnio Carlos 6627, Campus da UFMG Pampulha 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG Brazil
mpf@cdtn.br

INTRODUCTION The exceptional mechanical and electrical properties of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and of graphenes make them ideal candidates for developing functional and structural polymers/graphitic composites. Poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA, is a widely used non-toxic, biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic polymer with excellent mechanical properties. The interest in mixing PVA with various modifiers is rapidly growing, with potential usefulness in electronics and pharmaceutical devices, sensors, etc. EXPERIMENTS AND RESULTS We have prepared PVA/graphitic composite films by incorporating SWCNTs, graphene and graphene oxide dispersed in surfactants such as cholic acid sodium salt, sodium dodecylsulfate-SDS and Yucca extract into PVA 5% w/v aqueous solution, obtaining homogeneous and transparent films, typically 0.020 mm thicknesses. The effect of radiation on graphitic material was evaluated.

-ray irradiation
SEM images

Flake before and after -ray irradiation (right).

PVA + NTC
PVA + GO(C) (3:1)

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Irradiao a 200 kGy Sem irradiao

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UV-visible spectroscopy, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Xray diffraction and mechanical tests were used to evaluate the PVA/graphitic composites systems.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To Ana Maria Penna - Physics Dept. - UFMG for the MEV images, to Beraca Sabar Qumicos e Ingredientes Ltda (Yucca ex tract) and to FAPEMIG and CNPq for the scholarships for B.O.N., D.S.C.G., R.M.S. and P.E.L.S., T.L.C.A. respectively.